National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
L.A. Lakers 106, Minnesota 98
When: 10:30 PM ET, Friday, March 18, 2011
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Officials: #35 Kane Fitzgerald, #36 David Jones, #55 Bill Kennedy
Attendance: 18997

Pau Gasol scored 25 points as the host Los Angeles Lakers struggled to put away Minnesota 106-98 on Friday for their 15th straight victory over the Timberwolves.

Kobe Bryant, who is nursing a sprained ankle, scored all of his 18 points in the final 25 minutes. He hit his last two shots of the second quarter - both 3-pointers - after missing his first six shots. He finished 6 for 17 from the field in 28 minutes.

Gasol started an 8-0 run with 3:34 to go which put the Lakers ahead for good. He finished 12 of 17 from the field and is averaging 21.5 points in his last four games.

The Lakers (49-20) improved to 11-1 since the All-Star break.

Wesley Johnson scored a career-high 29 points, and Kevin Love had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves (17-53), who fell to 5-30 on the road and 6-45 when their opponent reaches 100 points.

The Lakers finished the third quarter with a 7-0 run - the last five points by Bryant - to take a 78-74 lead.

The Lakers' Andrew Bynum (14 rebounds) was ejected with 6:16 to go after a flagrant foul on Michael Beasley, who made both free throws to put the Timberwolves back in front 89-88. Beasley bruised his hip after landing hard on the floor and did not return.

Love had 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Johnson had 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting in the first half as the Timberwolves took a 51-49 lead.
Top Game Performances
 
Minnesota   L.A. Lakers
Wesley Johnson 29 Scoring Pau Gasol 25
Luke Ridnour 8 Assists Kobe Bryant 5
Kevin Love 13 Rebounds Andrew Bynum 14
Michael Beasley 4 Free Throws Made Kobe Bryant 4
Wesley Johnson 3 Steals Metta World Peace 3
Wesley Johnson 1 Blocks Pau Gasol 4
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Minnesota 98 44.3 7-21 13-18 24 45 3 12 17
L.A. Lakers 106 47.6 8-19 18-23 24 44 6 8 16
Upcoming Games
  • L.A. Lakers will play their next game at home against Portland. The Lakers have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.
  • Minnesota will play their next game at home against Sacramento. The Timberwolves have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .000 after a loss.